Abounding Faith // Kara Lidberg

When I’m in what feels to be a valley of darkness, I retreat from God. I exhibit a lack of faith, feel unworthy to be in His presence, and think that He doesn’t even want to look at me, work miracles in my life, or partner with me to represent Him and further His Kingdom. Even though I believe this, I still wait for Jesus to respond to me, thinking that it’s completely His responsibility.

When reading Luke 7 and 8 however, I was reminded that when Jesus came to earth, He wasn’t always the one reaching out to those He miraculously encountered. While He definitely does pursue us, there were so many individuals who approached Him, believing with a faith so complete that Jesus could heal and that He was there to redeem their sins.

In chapter 7, He healed the centurion’s servant because the centurion believed in the power of Jesus’ words. He healed the widow’s son when He saw her vulnerability. He forgave in full the woman who washed His feet because she recognized her sin and knew that Jesus was her Savior. Chapter 8 goes on to further point out the faith of those who encountered Jesus with the stories of Him calming the storm, extracting the demon living in a man, healing the bleeding woman, and raising a child from the dead.

When Jesus tells the story of the two debtors, one who owed a small sum and one who owed more, He asks in Luke 7:42: “When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” The answer was clear to Simon and it’s clear to us, the one who held the larger debt because of the mercy shown to him.

Jesus goes on to tell Simon that this is also true for the woman washing His feet.

“Do you see this woman? I entered your house, you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” (Luke 7:44-47)

Because of our sin, we can love and appreciate God even more. I think this is a beautiful way God turns what we deem as mistakes and failures into something good. We want to love Him even more. We want to pursue Him even more. We want to know Him, need Him and obey Him even more.

I want a faith like that. Even when I feel as if I’m at the lowest place, whether it be actions of my own doing or life’s situations bombarding me, I want to have so much faith in my Lord and Savior that I can break down at His feet, washing them with my tears and knowing that He sees this not as an act of weakness, but of strength.

Reach out to Jesus today. Tell Him your needs and desires, having complete and whole faith that just as He did in the Biblical times we read about, He can and will perform present-day miracles in your own life. As you go throughout the rest of your day, remember Luke 7:50, which says, “And he said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’”